headyversion

find the best versions of grateful dead songs

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catalonia

neshaminy

+2158


Submissions

4
The Music Never Stopped
April 14, 1978
Cassell Coliseum - Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Bob blows some lyrics, but the midsection and outro are fluent and soaring. Lot on the list not as good as this one.
2
Uncle John's Band
Dec. 31, 1979
Oakland Auditorium

Excellent rendition with available A video and sound on youtube through music vault.
2
The Music Never Stopped
Oct. 29, 1980
Radio City Music Hall

Honorable mention on the old dead clubhouse page, but not on here. There's a youtube video with great sound. See for yourself.
4
Cassidy
Oct. 16, 1981
Melkweg

A unique sounding Cassidy. Parts of this almost sound like a studio release of a different band playing like the dead.
11
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
Sept. 20, 1982
Madison Square Garden

MSG Scarlet Fire from the Fall of '82 - great transition.

Comments

Eyes Of The World
May 22, 1977
The Sportatorium

I often find myself on this site concluding that a version is only rated as high as it is because there's an official release of it out there. I have the opposite kind of surprise here. This is Dick's Picks 3 and this has been my go to Eyes since 1995. I don't get why this isn't top three, but 20 years of developing this bias of mine has apparently warped my perspective. Nevertheless, there it is. This version is magic.
The Music Never Stopped
Oct. 16, 1977
Louisiana State U

This one is good. There is plenty of tension in the midsection before the flip to the outro as in every truly good MNS. Not my absolute favorite, but a top 10.
Scarlet Begonias -> Fire On The Mountain
June 7, 1991
Deer Creek Music Center

Sharleena - I just took a look at your google doc and I wanted to say that your insanity is right up my alley. Thanks for sharing! I will have to check out 8/27/81.
Help On The Way > Slipknot > Franklin's Tower
Feb. 26, 1977
Swing Auditorium

I'm surprised that this is as high as it is. The Slipknot is certainly where most of the action takes place - it is dark and exploratory. The last three minutes of Franklin's Tower are great too. But this triptych thrives on tightness and tightness is conspicuously lacking in a number of places. I'm not going to upvote this because I think that we have a real conversation about what belongs in 4th place now, with four tied for that spot.
Pretty Peggy O
Feb. 27, 1977
Robertson Gym, UC Santa Barbara

This version is tight. *yawn* But it's 1977...